Housing Needs Construction Fixtures Fittings Furnishings Aims Objectives

Housing Needs Construction Fixtures, Fittings, Furnishings

Aims & Objectives Know basic requirements of accommodation Know basic environmental factors we consider in animal housing Know basic construction materials

Requirements – factors to consider • • Law Species / breed being housed - size Purpose of housing – full time, temporary – boarding, travel Budget available Location – indoor outdoor Access – self and animal Exercise • • Ventilation – passive or active Heating – room or species accommodation specific Cleaning – easy to clean Lighting Safety – owner and animal Strength – keep animal in and predators, people out Temperature Shelter from weather and drafts

Environmental factors • • • Ventilation – ensure an adequate supply of air/oxygen, removal of stale air – prevent respiratory problems, reduce airborne infections, remove odours, prevent excessive temperatures. two types passive ventilation – windows, open doors, vents Active ventilation – fans, ventilation, air unit systems

Environmental factors • Heating & Humidity (water vapour in the atmosphere) – providing a comfortable environment for the animal which is species specific – an animal that comes from a jungle environment needs high humidity levels, desert or semi arid species need dry heat.

Environmental Factors • • Noise – consider internal factors that could affect animal in regards to noise and stress, and noise affects to neighbours via species being housed Lighting – correct for species – natural(care should be taken not to place cages in a window in direct sunlight) or artificial – light bulbs, red bulbs –infra red, daylight bulbs, uva/uvb bulbs

Construction & Design • • • There are many different materials available for the construction of animal housings Wood – cheap, warm, difficult to clean and dry, harbour bacteria/parasites, easily destroyed through chewing and scratching Metal – expensive, cold, easy to clean and disinfect, strong, not easily chewed

Construction & Design • • Plastic – cheap, cold unless indoors, easy to clean and disinfect Fibreglass – can be expensive, cold unless heated, easy to clean & disinfect, can be moulded into any shape so no joints to harbour germs, good for reptiles and snakes

Construction & Design • • Polypropylene – average price, cold unless heated, easy to clean & disinfect, good for temporary caging, small rodents, and arachnids and insects Glass – cheap, cold unless heated, easy to clean and disinfect, house various species from small rodents, fish, reptiles, must be well ventilated for some rodent species as ammonia can build up from urine affecting breathing and overall health

Construction & Design Concrete and brick & breeze blocks – concrete is cheap other expensive, easy to scrub and disinfect, though any cracks can harbour bacteria/parasites, very strong and durable (long lasting), excellent for dogs, destructive species of animals and birds

Housing – providing provision of exercise- benefits Maintains health and fitness Builds muscle Provides mental stimulation Sociable species play and exercise together Weight control

Animal Welfare Act

Task – power point (5 mins) Investigate who lives in the following housing: Arboreal vivarium terrarium vivarium semi aquatic vivaruim Aquarium Gerbilarium Aviary Suggest what they can be made from Suggest fixtures and fittings for species Suggest ways of giving water to species Maintenance How environment allows the 5 freedoms

Housing terms and Names Vivarium – housing associated with reptiles – arboreal vivarium – for tree dwellers, terrarium – for ground dwellers, semi aquatic Aquarium – aquatic animals Gerbilarium – tank housing gerbils Aviary – indoor or outdoor large housing for birds. Chicken coup for chickens Metal cage – strong durable housing a variety of animals

Housing terms and Names Stable – large internal housing block suitable for horse, pony, goats – internal bedded area known as a stall Barn – large structural housing suitable for large animals and poultry birds Rotastak – specialised housing for hamsters. Crates – restricted housing for young calves, dogs Kennel – term relating mainly to dog housing Cattery – term relating mainly to cat housing

Housing Stalls or Pens – term used for segregated housing with in a barn suitable for sheep, pigs, goats, cattle & horses Hutch – term used for housing suitable for guinea pig or rabbit (size specific)

Task Look at the following houses and state Name of housing – vivarium, cage, hutch etc Type of animal housed State some - fixtures, fittings and furnishings Finally how do we provide exercise

Name housing, animal, fixtures, exercise

Coup Chickens Plastic / pot bowls and water feeders Substrate – grass / wood chip / straw Allow animal out to exercise naturally

Rotastak Hamsters Plastic housing Plastic water bottles Plastic wheel Pot bowls Exercise – wheel / tubes / allow

arboreal vivarium – for tree dwellers, Snakes / reptiles Natural / plastic plants Natural (wood chip ) / plastic ground cover

terrarium – for ground Sand Natural planting Plastic / pot dishes Climbing on different terrains / to be let out for exercise

Aquarium Pebbles / sand Plastic plants Natural plants

Stables Horses Pigs Goats

Barn Cows Chickens Turkeys

Crate Dogs / cats / small live stock Plastic bows / metal bowl

Metal caging Livestock straw

Aviary Birds Natural branches Wooden perches Swings

Animal Ant Badger Bat Bear Beaver Bee Bird of Prey Cattle Chicken Dog Fox Hare Horse Lion Mole Otter Pig Rabbit Sheep Snake Spider Squirrel Termite Tiger Wasp Wolf Home

Animal Ant Badger Bat Bear Beaver Bee Bird of Prey Cattle Chicken Dog Fox Hare Horse Lion Mole Otter Pig Rabbit Sheep Snake Spider Squirrel Termite Tiger Wasp Wolf Home Hill or Formicary Sett Roost, Cave Den Lodge Hive Nest Eyrie Cattery, Lair, Den Barn, Byre, Pasture, Stable Coop, Run Kennel Earth, Den, Hole, Lair Form Paddock, Stable, Stall, Stud Den Burrow, Fortress, Tunnel Holt, Ledge Pen, Sty Warren, Burrow, Cony-garth, Hutch Fold, Pen Nest Web Drey Mound Lair Nest, Vespiary Lair, Den

Basic Environment All animals are entitled to the Five Freedoms wherever they are housed. The Five Freedoms are a set of five basic rules concerning the welfare of animals. They apply to the housing of both large and small animals. They are as follows:

Animal Welfare Act 2005 Freedom from hunger and thirst Freedom from discomfort Freedom from pain, injury and disease Freedom to express normal behaviour Freedom from fear and distress

Animal Welfare We are control of the animals lifestyle; it is our responsibility to make sure that the animals needs are met, whatever the circumstances. The law requires that you must take reasonable steps to ensure that it: has a suitable environment to live in; has a healthy diet; is able to behave normally is protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease. has appropriate company;

http: //gov. wales/docs/drah/publications/11 0817 rabbitcodeen. pdf Page 4

Fit for purpose Size of accommodation Prevent injury Maintain accommodation Promotes health and wellbeing Correct enrichment Correct temperature / humidity

Prevent illness and disease Clean accommodation Prevent injury from disinfectant Prevent stress

health Socialisation of species Factors to consider Natural behaviour age

Correct positioning Site of housing temperature Environmental conditions Fumes Draughts

Suitability for animal enrichment Monitoring conditions Length of stay Freedom to display natural movement Prevention of stress

Stress- Rabbit Appearing nervous – freezing , hunched, ears flat Being jumpy Bulging eyes Being aggressive Restless Heavy rapid breathing Over grooming Not grroming

Stress Boredom You should ensure your rabbit has enough mental stimulation from you and from its environment so that it won’t get bored and frustrated. Bored rabbits quickly become unhealthy, unhappy and possibly aggressive.

Animal Accommodation - TASK Produce an illustrated booklet which discusses all aspects of maintaining accommodation for the selected species

Front page Contents page Rabbits natural needs Animal welfare legislation Your Plan • Rabbit accommodation • Accommodation maintenance • factors which affect the maintenance (age, sex, age, behaviour) • How to assess animal is showing natural behaviour • Environmental conditions that affect animals • Identify reasons for monitoring environmental conditions and reporting variations in suitability, freedom for movement, minimising stress

Your plan Enrichment Diet Disinfection and cleaning Normal and abnormal behaviour Health and safety legislation and codes pf practice Cleaning and disposal